Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
